Mr. Berman (for
himself, Mr. Bilbray,
Mr. Filner, and
Mr. Heinrich) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in
addition to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned

RESOLUTION

Expressing support for designation of the
period beginning April 9, 2012, and ending May 6, 2012, as
Bataan-Corregidor Month.

Whereas April 9, 2012, and May 6, 2012, mark the 70th
anniversaries of the fall of Bataan and Corregidor, respectively, to Japanese
forces;

Whereas upon the outbreak of war between the United States
and Japan in World War II, approximately 100,000 members of the organized
military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines who
had been called into the service of the United States Armed Forces by order of
President Roosevelt dated July 26, 1941, were committed to battle, along with
United States personnel, against Japanese forces that invaded the Philippines
on December 8, 1941;

Whereas the Filipino and United States defenders of the
Philippines engaged Japanese forces from the beaches of the Philippine islands
to the last defense of Bataan and Corregidor in a grueling battle lasting 150
days;

Whereas the enormous sacrifices of the defenders in the
battles of Bataan and Corregidor provided the United States and its Allies with
valuable time to prepare their armed forces for a counteroffensive campaign
against Japan;

Whereas in that defense, the members of the Filipino
forces and their United States counterparts struggled against difficult odds
and desperate circumstances and faced, with indomitable spirit, fortitude, and
loyalty to the United States, powerful Japanese forces;

Whereas the surrender of United States and Filipino troops
on April 9, 1942, on the Bataan Peninsula led to the infamous Bataan Death
March;

Whereas as many as 11,000 of the approximately 78,000
prisoners of war (12,000 United States and 66,000 Filipino troops) died during
the march to Camp O’Donnell prison camp;

Whereas the survivors’ suffering did not end with the
march, as over twice as many prisoners died in the first two months of
imprisonment at Camp O’Donnell as did on the march, and thousands later died of
malnourishment, disease, exhaustion, physical abuse, or by execution;

Whereas members of the Filipino forces acquitted
themselves nobly during the Bataan Death March, during their internment in
death camps, and throughout 3 years of resistance against Japanese occupation
of the Philippines;

Whereas more than 140,000 Filipino soldiers fought in
units of the United States Army during World War II, and many other Filipinos
fought during World War II in units that had no ties or only informal ties to
the United States Army;

Whereas the remains of over 17,000 members of the United
States Armed Forces are buried in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in
the Philippines;

Whereas the United States and the Philippines enjoy strong
historical ties and an enduring friendship; and

Whereas the United States recognizes the sacrifice,
loyalty, and valuable contribution of the Filipino and United States World War
II veterans to the causes of peace, freedom, and human dignity: Now, therefore,
be it

That—

(1)

the House of Representatives—

(A)

supports the designation of
Bataan-Corregidor Month; and

(B)

requests that the
President issue a proclamation designating such a month and calling upon the
people of the United States to observe that period with appropriate ceremonies
and activities, including the recognition of veterans who served in the Bataan
Peninsula and Corregidor in the Philippines during World War II; and

(2)

it is the sense of the House of
Representatives that United States and Filipino veterans deserve recognition
for their bravery in defending Bataan and Corregidor and valiant service during
World War II.